But following widespread outrage and debate, Prime Minster Scott Morrison now says any changes to the law will protect LGBTI students. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten agrees with him.

Now, the principals of 34 Anglican schools in New South Wales have written to our federal politicians asking them to protect the legal exemptions that allow them to sack gay teachers.

In an open letter to all the MPs in Australia, the heads of school argue there is “no effective protection” under Australian law that “guarantees” religious freedom.

This is the letter from the Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney.Source:Supplied

The second half of the letter.Source:Supplied

They claim the changes to the law are not designed to discriminate, but to protect their organisation’s core values.

“The debate has been polemicised as the right to expel gay students, with little evidence that this occurs, and the right to dismiss gay staff members, again with very little evidence that this occurs,” the letter states

“The current exemptions ... in the Sex Discrimination Act are really the only significant legal protections available to schools to maintain their ethos and values with regard to core issues of faith,” it said.

The list of schools and principals who don't want anti-discrimination laws changed to protect LGBT teachers and students from being excluded.Source:Supplied

TheAnglican Church Diocese of Sydney’s letter says it’s about employing staff who reflect the ethos of the school.

“By and large across faith-based schools, the issue at hand is the right to employ staff who support the ethos of the school. This is not inconsistent with the practice of most employers and their corporate goals, let alone political parties,” the letter said.

“It is essential that a teacher supports the values, ethos and mission of the school as much as he or she can. It is not appropriate, for example, for a teacher to undermine or denigrate the beliefs and teaching of an employing school.”

The principals of numerous elite Sydney private schools including the King’s School in Parramatta, Barker College and Abbotsleigh in the northern suburbs, Shore in North Sydney and Trinity Grammar School in the inner west have signed the letter.

Members of the LGBTI community who attended many of these schools have expressed sadness and outrage about the letter on social media.

This is the full list of NSW schools who approve of discrimination against LGBTI+ students and teachers. They have asked the prime minister to grant them their right to fire gay teachers and expel gay students. -@JordanRaskoI was a student at Shellharbour Anglican. Heartbroken. pic.twitter.com/WiJhAgtVUr

Given how many Anglican institutions—many of them schools—were raised in the Royal Commission as having a “do nothing” approach to child sex abuse, the temerity of taking action on this borders on the breathtaking. https://t.co/g0YNPxMeiQ